CLEARWATER, Fla. — Kyle Schwarber got into town Sunday, chose No. 12, and took a few hacks in a batting cage hidden from public view. Nick Castellanos will be here by the middle of the week. There will be news conferences and photo ops with jerseys and runaway optimism over how many home runs a slugger-filled Phillies lineup can possibly hit.
“What an awesome experience we’re about to have this year,” Bryce Harper said, and maybe he will prove to be correct.
But there are also certain facts about the Phillies that are undisputed, none more than this: No amount of offense will fulfill their mission of snapping a decadelong absence from the postseason if Zack Wheeler is unable to pitch every five days for the next six months.
